Sweltering temperatures bring misery to large portion of central US, setting some heat records

Intense heat waves lingered across a wide area of the central United States on Sunday, causing discomfort and distress from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes region.

Texas and other states reported record high temperatures, with warnings issued to individuals to consume extra fluids if engaging in outdoor activities like lawn mowing or exercise, and to ensure that neighbors had access to air conditioning.

“The soaring temperatures have a profound impact on our friends, family, and neighbors who might live alone, especially if they restrict their use of air conditioning,” stated Sarah Russell, the commissioner for the St. Louis Emergency Management Agency. “We are urging people to make a point of checking in on loved ones to ensure their well-being during this oppressive heat.”

On Sunday, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was predicted to experience temperatures as high as 110 F (43.3 C), surpassing the previous day’s 108 F (42.2 C) and breaking the 2011 record of 107 F (41.7 C), according to National Weather Service meteorologist Sarah Barnes.

Barnes noted the lack of night-time cooling as a significant concern, saying, “The fact that temperatures aren’t dropping sufficiently at night is contributing to a heightened risk of heat-related illnesses. The well-being of individuals in these high temperatures is our primary concern.”

This torrid weekend is the latest in a series of heat waves that have plagued the U.S. this year.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that global climate change, resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and certain agricultural activities, is causing more frequent and longer periods of extreme weather, including higher temperatures.

The whole world experienced record-breaking heat in June and July, exacerbated by global events like wildfires, floods, and droughts.

Warnings and advisories for excessive heat were issued on Sunday for parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and several other states.

New Orleans’ tourism is slowing down due to the summer heat, with temperatures nearing 100 F (37.8 C). A local restaurant, NOLA Poboys, has even reduced operating days, according to chef Lucas McQueen, who stated, “I can’t wait to be complaining about being cold.”

In Jackson, Mississippi, Saturday’s temperature of 104 F (40 C) set a new record as festival-goers juggled indoor and outdoor events at the Mississippi Book Festival.

Houston was expected to continue its 21-day streak of temperatures at or above 100 F (38 C) on Sunday, while Texas’s Prairie View A&M University dealt with the heat-related hospitalization of 38 students during new student orientation.

“It’s incredibly easy to overheat quickly in this Texas heat. We strongly advise everyone to remain indoors whenever possible,” cautioned Waller County EMS Chief Rhonda Getschman.

Meanwhile, much of Iowa and St. Louis were bracing for temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s (37.8 C to 39.4 C) through the week, with excessive humidity pushing the heat index up to 115 F (46.1 C).

The prolonged and extreme heat led to the opening of cooling centers in places like Little Rock, Arkansas, and brought back memories of the record-setting heat in the Phoenix area last month.

The CDC reports that heat leads to 600 to 700 deaths annually in the U.S., but the actual number may be higher due to inconsistent reporting across counties.

Contributors to this report included Big Big News writers Jim Salter in St. Louis, Jackie Quinn in Washington, and Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi. More information on climate and environment coverage can be found at https://bigbignews.net/climate-and-environment.

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• National Weather Service
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Heat-related Illnesses
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